Curious how many people on this forum have composting heads. We had an Airhead on our last sailboat and loved it. This week I pulled our leaking Jabsco quiet flush electric system out and ordered an Airhead for our trawler. No more motors, hoses, switches, smell, winterizing, or pump outs!

I had a composting on my Camano. I loved it. You never have to have a pump out.
I now have 3 vacuum flush toilets on my Viking and thinking about replacing one of them with a compost toilet.
Carolyn from Maryland

Don't own one, but my good friend has one on his RV and loves it.
However, on a boat, I have read on this forum (I forget where exactly) that installing one may have a negative impact when you decide to sell your boat (both in price and desirability)??
I also wonder about storing (or disposing of) urine on board. I would assume that pouring urine overboard in a no discharge zone (and getting caught) could result in fines? The entire Puget Sound in Washington State is a no discharge zone, and even treated sewage is not allowed to be discharged.
Just some thoughts (or concerns) on this subject.

I could definately see where the installation of a composting toilet might make it harder to sell a boat, as most folks expect to see a "normal" flush toilet.

That said, I could see real value in pulling out the the old head and replacing it with a composting toilet. Not only could one be on the hook longer without a waste tank to pump, but one could pull possibly pull the waste tank and install a second fresh water tank.

Most of the folks with the bigger boats (who don't have the tank limit concerns) will usually "pooh-pooh" the idea of having a composting toilet, but it really can open up the cruising opportunities in a smaller boat.

I, too, wonder what you do with the urine. I think the pouring it into a container and dumping it overboard is considered the same as pumping from a tank. Peeing overboard wouldn't violate the discharge rules, but that potentially has its own set of problems as well!

I bought my new old boat last summer, in refit right now. The boat head system was so old there were no holding tanks, but still an odor if the sea water wasn't flushed for a while. I am now the proud owner of an Airhead, the best choice if your head area is tight as the top section doesn't tilt like a Nature's Head requiring more space. Where I purchased the toilet from also includes a second tank so you can rotate without issues.

I’m definitely putting one in our new boat. They are superior. I’ve lived with the nature’s head in an RV and while it’s a nice unit, the next one I do will not have a stirring rod setup like that, because that precludes the use of bags and I want to use bags this time. So I’m going to build my own, using bags for the solids and a pee diverter that routes to a holding tank that has a pump. I’d be curious what enforcement would have to say about discharging pee, if it’s allowed or not, but I have a feeling that they wouldn’t mind that at all.
Side note: it turns out that adding sugar to the pee tank totally eliminates any bad smells. We have been using this method and it works amazingly.

We have a frugal / penny pinching ($150.00 Canadian) Separett Privy 500 over a bucket (with clever Rube Goldberg manual desiccating medium agitating system) as a 'proof of concept' before chucking real money on a fancier device. Had it over a year now and won't be putting in a flusher again.

__________________"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" Murray Minchin

We have a frugal / penny pinching ($150.00 Canadian) Separett Privy 500 over a bucket (with clever Rube Goldberg manual desiccating medium agitating system) as a 'proof of concept' before chucking real money on a fancier device. Had it over a year now and won't be putting in a flusher again.

Tastefully enclosed within a built-in toilet height, vented to the outside, cabinet of course.

__________________"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" Murray Minchin

I’d be curious what enforcement would have to say about discharging pee, if it’s allowed or not, but I have a feeling that they wouldn’t mind that at all.

It is entirely illegal to discharge any non-treated sewage, including urine, within 3 miles of shore. Furthermore, many areas are Non-Discharge Zones that preclude discharging even treated sewage, regardless of how well it is treated.

Being on the river in Portland, you will need a Type III MSD. This holds all sewage for appropriate disposal on shore. For a composting head, this means that both solids and liquids will need to be stored for later disposal. When you are inspected, you will need to demonstrate that you have and are using the capability to do so.

If you are caught emptying a bucket of urine overboard, there are all kinds of agencies that will not have much of a sense of humor about it.

It is entirely illegal to discharge any non-treated sewage, including urine, within 3 miles of shore. Furthermore, many areas are Non-Discharge Zones that preclude discharging even treated sewage, regardless of how well it is treated.

Being on the river in Portland, you will need a Type III MSD. This holds all sewage for appropriate disposal on shore. For a composting head, this means that both solids and liquids will need to be stored for later disposal. When you are inspected, you will need to demonstrate that you have and are using the capability to do so.

If you are caught emptying a bucket of urine overboard, there are all kinds of agencies that will not have much of a sense of humor about it.

Not yet. However, I have heard rumors of a couple marinas in BC that prohibit gray water discharge. So far, gray water discharge is not prohibited in NDZs but that could change. I hope not but regulations are sometimes neither rational or consistent.

I've heard good things about them, but I always read both sides for any product or story etc. Genuinely curious about the ups and downs...

There is some attention needed to make sure urine containers don't overflow and to empty/refill desiccating material, but it's a welcome task compared to having a non operating head on a trip with family and friends, days away from any marina.

I know, I know...with regular maintenance a traditional flushing head, yada-yada-yada. Ours stopped working because of what a previous owner had done, and was hidden behind a cabinet wall.

There are no pump outs on BC's north coast; everybody is allowed to pump out their holding tanks mid channel on outgoing tides. A low population base, many long narrow channels, and big tidal flows factor into this policy. We like to stay anchored in one location for a week or more, so prefer not having to pull anchor to empty the holding tank and feel good about not flushing into the pristine places we love.

__________________"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" Murray Minchin

As with most things there is a learning curve with composting heads. It took us a whole season to experience the "joys" of having one. Probably the biggest chore is a daily emptying of the urine container. If you drink lots of fluids, two adults can fill the tank in a day. Once you have your routine down it isn't bad. The other thing that can happen is flying insects. If you forget to close the lid after every use, little gnat like flies will get into the main tank and breed. One day you will wake up to hundreds of these small flies in the bathroom. Mixing some diatamacious earth (used in pool filters) into your compost and mixing will stop the problem. Once you have gone through this experience one time you will be very good about keeping the lid closed. For us, the pros far outweigh the cons.